2000 Draft Overview

By Nathan Estabrooks

June 7th, 2000

In the early days of June the eyes of every true hockey fan are directed at draft weekend. This year’s draft will take place in Calgary on June 23rd; the day previous the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets will pick current NHL players from the expansion draft list.

The intention of the host franchise is to have a GM and a coach by such time. It remains to be seen if this will be completed, but the latest word out of Cowtown is an announcement is forthcoming. Lanny Macdonald as V.P. of hockey operations, Mike Murphy as GM and an exiled Roger Nielsen as coach.

In the meantime other teams will be reviewing scouting reports and interviewing prospects. An oddity, which will make this year’s draft interesting is the large amount the prospects unable to sign contracts with teams that drafted them in ’98. These prospects will re-enter draft as a result. Those who weren’t ranked by CSB all season will suddenly make a relatively shallow draft pool deeper.

Does a team take a player two years older and more experienced, or a younger player whose potential is yet be known?

Ramzi Abid a forward from Montreal failed to come to terms with the Colorado Avalanche. By far Abid’s best year was his draft year, otherwise Abid has been unpredictable and unable to separate himself from the pack. Probably an early second rounder this time out. Abid had 67 goals this season.

Justin Papineau is small and fast with offensive potential. Papineau possesses an ability to control the game that Abid doesn’t. The largest knock against Papineau was his lack of success in the corners. Apparently Papineau and his agent were bidding down, yet even for less money Los Angeles was not willing to sign him. If there is a team out there who thinks they can surround him with bigger players, expect Papineau to go late first round.

Mathieu Chouinard was once Ottawa’s great goaltending hope. Chouinard collected the Quebec league’s Defensive player award the year after being draft. Unfortunately a sub par year and an attitude problem dropped Chouinard a few rungs on the depth chart. There must be a team willing to overlook this past year, and if so Chouinard should go mid first round.

The Islanders and Michael Rupp were unable to come to terms. Rupp was a bit of the project, great size but with the slowest feet this side of Paul “snowshoes” Laus. Milbury decided to cut his losses. Rupp’s draft position will fall drastically, perhaps even the third round.

The WHL player of the year Brand Moran, was not signed by the Buffalo Sabres. Moran has been signed by the Columbus Bluejackets.

Those not returning to the draft negotiated down to the wire. The exception is Brad Richards who signed a few days hence. The Lightning made sure to ink Brad Richards of the Rimouski Oceanic, as he was the leading scorer in the QMJHL this year and MVP of the Memorial Cup. Richards was drafted in the third round of the ’98 draft. Richards, Lecavalier’s winger with the Oceanic is perhaps the most improved of all ’98 picks. Now Tampa has a familiar player and a matured player for Lecavalier to play with.

Michael Ryder of Newfoundland has made a name for himself as a player who scores big goals. If you’re down by one or in overtime this is the guy who should have the puck. Ryder was a late round pick for Montreal in ’98. It was an eleventh hour deal but Ryder is now a salaried member of the Habitants.

Perhaps the most perplexing hold out was Jeff Heerema. In part because Carolina needs all the depth it can get. As of Thursday he was the second highest ’98 draft pick (11th) `not signed. Rupp was the highest. Jimmy Rutherford and Peter Karmanos have both vowed not to overpay for talent. Keith Primeau found this out, but in the end necessity won over morality and Heerema was signed to a multi-year deal.

Glen Sather’s last task as an Edmonton Oiler was to sign Michael Henrich. Acting in an advisory capacity Sather locked up Henrich to around 900,000 dollars a year.

Jonathan Cheechoo led the Belleville Bulls in scoring with 45 goals and 46 assists. The Sharks put him under contract

The lottery picks were pulled and the teams will pick in the following order. Atlanta had the 25% chance of landing the first pick, but the pick went to the newly acquired New York Islanders.